gary@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Gary Buchholz) (09/19/86)
I feel kinda left out with all this talk of Brother Jed, Sister Cindi (a.k.a. Disco Cindi) and Brother Max Lynch. The University of Chicago campus is deprived of such "comic relief". However, there is an Evangelist that (used to) appear here in Chicago on late night TV channel 26 who provided the "necessary distraction" (and comic relief) for my late night studies. Dr. Gene Scott (an authentic PhD in Philosophy from Stanford who claims "I was the only one [ in the PhD program ] that escaped with my faith.") is a cigar chomping, white haired, bearded, leather coat wearing, cussing, "mountain man" who sits in a big stuffed chair and asks for money while a live band plays rock and roll mixed with Christian music. Basically, the script goes like this. (Dr.) Scott sits in his chair wearing his leathers and one of an assortment of different hats and eyewear. (The hats range from a chromed construction workers hat to a cowboy hat; eyewear includes half reading glasses to various California exotica). He needs $26,000,000 to save The Church of the Open Door (in the heart of Los Angeles, Calif ) from the wrecking ball. He simply asks that people contribute $10,000 each to his cause. Between the rock music and long duration close up camera shots (Oh, the camera shots are great- 45''(Diagonal measure) close up of Scotts face, silent and montionless, smoking the biggest cigar I've ever seen, camera angle siting down this long cigar while he "blows smoke in your face") you can hear him cuss out Jimmy Swaggart who he calls a "piss ant". Now, what a "piss ant" is, I don't know - but Scott assures us that Jimmy is one. Such a disgust has Scott for Fundamentalist Christianity that he has a "piss ant" song which is played against shots of paintings of "piss ants" and dedicated to Jimmy. One night Scott was enraged when he learned that he came on ch. 26 Chicago AFTER Swaggarts "Study in the Word" that he asked Chicago viewers to call to verify this saying that if it were true he would get his show rescheduled. Scott has an 800 number that you can call to donate money. Every now and then (between Jail House Rock and the "piss ant" song - which are performed by a live band) Scott reads the names of contributors and the amounts. He sits there, chomping on the stogie, reading these donations (silently to himself or aloud) and then very un-ceremonously tosses these pieces of paper over his shoulder so that they land in a scattered heap on the floor. I've noticed a certain "violence" in the toss when it comes to a "prayer request" (sorry,no money) - but it must be my imagination. If the donations don't come in fast enough or in big enough amounts you get one of those famous long duration total silence close up shots siting down the cigar while Scott blows smoke in your face. This is motivation enough for his audience to get on the phone and give money. I'm in a real mess. Classes begin here at U of C in 2 weeks and Scott, who serves as my distraction and comic relief, is nowhere to be found - ch.26 or otherwise. If anyone out there knows of Scott or his whereabouts I'd certainly like to know. Geez, I hope I don't have to get a satellite dish. Gary